Designed by the smart folks at Ripped Body, this beginner bodybuilding workout routine is a great introduction to hypertrophy training for novices. The spreadsheet for this bodybuilding program for novices is based on this post shared by Ripped Body.
[Read more…]Powerlifting Programs that use RPE
Below you'll find powerlifting programs that use RPE to calculate a significant amount of the programmed lifts.
If you didn't find the RPE-based powerlifting program you're looking for, try using the Lift Vault Program Library. It lets you search through all Lift Vault programs using lots of different criteria, including how weights are calculated and various program types.
Related: powerlifting programs, powerbuilding programs, bodybuilding programs, strength training programs
Mike Israetel 5 Week Hypertrophy Workout Routine Spreadsheet
This is a 6 day hypertrophy program built on Dr. Mike Israetel’s volume landmarks. You start each muscle group near the volume where growth kicks in, add sets and weight every week for four weeks, then take a deload on week 5. The spreadsheet does the bookkeeping, so you can see exactly how many sets each muscle is getting and when to back off.
The whole idea is volume landmarks: the set ranges that maintain muscle (MV), start growing it (MEV), grow it fastest (MAV), and the ceiling your body can still recover from (MRV). Instead of running the same sets every week like a fixed program, you ramp volume across the mesocycle toward your MRV and then reset with a deload. It’s the Renaissance Periodization approach to hypertrophy training, turned into a spreadsheet you can actually run.
I’d point intermediate and advanced lifters here, not beginners. It’s six days a week and a lot of volume to manage, and you get more out of it once you can tell the difference between a productive amount of work and too much. If you’re newer or short on time, start with a simpler program like PHUL and come back to this when you want to push volume on purpose.
[Read more…]BarBend 10 Week Powerbuilding Program
The BarBend 10-week powerbuilding program was designed with the expertise of BarBend’s Fitness Editor Jake Boly MS CSCS, and is a program that was created in partnership with Gravitus mobile app.
[Read more…]“Next Level” Linear Progression Strength Program (Brian Alsruhe)
This is a linear progression strength program from Brian Alsruhe. It is the “next level” continuation of the linear progression programming video that he originally published in 2016 (video below). [Read more…]
Alan Thrall Program Spreadsheet – Untamed Method
The Untamed Method is a free 12-week powerlifting program that Barbell Medicine wrote for Alan Thrall of Untamed Strength. You train four days a week, and every day pairs the competition lifts (squat, bench, and deadlift) with a variation lift, a myo-rep pump slot, and some easy conditioning work. Loads run off RPE and your estimated 1RM, with percentage back-off sets on the main lifts.
The whole point was to keep Thrall progressing on very little. Dr. Austin Baraki built it while Alan was dealing with a newborn, so it is designed around short sleep, little free time, and compromised recovery. That is why it leans so hard on autoregulation: you push when you feel good and back off when you do not, using RPE to pick the weight instead of grinding a fixed number. It is the same block-periodized, RPE-first approach you will see in The Bridge and Barbell Medicine’s peaking templates, and if you are still getting comfortable rating your sets, the RPE calculator does the reps-to-percentage math for you.
It fits intermediate lifters who already know their way around RPE and want structure without a rigid percentage grind. Beginners can run it, but you will get more out of a simple linear program first, and if you are pointing at a meet you may prefer a dedicated peak like Calgary Barbell. If you have the four days and you are comfortable auto-regulating, it is a low-stress way to keep the big three moving when life is busy.
[Read more…]Brendan Tietz Beginner Powerlifting Program Spreadsheet
August 6, 2019 Update: The spreadsheet is now available for copying and sharing. Apologies for the mix up.
A beginner powerlifting program released by Brendan Tietz. A video overview and full program details are below. [Read more…]
Brendan Tietz Submax DUP 12 Week Powerlifting Program Spreadsheet
A daily undulating periodization program from Brendan Tietz for powerlifters. As this is a submaximal powerlifting program, this is best suited for off season work, not peaking for a meet. [Read more…]
Westside for Skinny Bastards Program Templates (WS4SB)
Westside for Skinny Bastards (WS4SB) is Joe DeFranco’s hybrid, Westside-style program for skinny lifters and hard-gainers who want to add size and strength at the same time. It’s built around a primary heavy lift plus supplemental and accessory work, and DeFranco published it as two different templates: the original 3-day version (Part 1) and a later 4-day revision (Part 3). Pick the one that fits your schedule and how much you want to train.
The program borrows the Westside Barbell idea of rotating a max-effort lift and a repetition (higher-rep) lift, but it trims the conjugate method down into something a high schooler, athlete, or working professional can actually run. You train the upper body twice a week and hit the lower body hard, with the max-effort method building strength and the repetition method adding muscle. It’s a loose template, not a strict percentage-of-1RM plan, so you’ll rotate exercises every few weeks and do a little interpreting as you go.
WS4SB is geared toward ectomorphs and athletes who want general size and strength rather than a competition powerlifting total. If you’re brand new to lifting and want something simpler to start with, a straight linear program like Starting Strength or StrongLifts 5×5 is an easier on-ramp. Inspired by Westside, this program is not affiliated with Westside Barbell or Louie Simmons, and it is not a powerlifting program.
[Read more…]Brazos Valley Barbell 8 Week Intermediate Powerlifting Program
Brazos Valley Barbell Intermediate Powerlifting Program Overview
- Written by David Woolson with Brazos Valley Barbell
- 8 week powerlifting program
- 1 deload week
- 5 days per week
- 3x weekly squat
- 3-4x weekly bench press (if counting bench variations like CGBP)
- 2x weekly deadlift
Long program description and video overview are available below. [Read more…]
TSA 9 Week Beginner Powerlifting Program
The Strength Athlete (TSA) released their 9 week beginner powerlifting program (aka general beginner approach) as a follow up to their successful 9 week intermediate powerlifting program. Like the intermediate program before it, the beginner program is structured as a 4 day, 9 week program, but also includes a 4 week peak if preparing for a meet.
[Read more…]RTS General Intermediate Program Spreadsheet – Mike Tuchscherer
Reactive Training Systems (RTS) train some of the strongest powerlifters on the planet, so when Mike Tuchscherer published a general outline for a training program people took notice. [Read more…]
Candito Advanced 9 Week Squat Program Spreadsheet
Released in 2016 by Jonnie Candito, this is a 9 week advanced squat program. Similar to his advanced deadlift program and advanced bench press program, this emphasizes progression on the squat and places significantly less emphasis on the bench and deadlift. This is geared toward lifters that have plateaued on their squat or are looking to focus on it for other reasons. [Read more…]
3 Peaking Template Spreadsheets by Barbell Medicine
Following up on the popular Bridge Program, the crew at Barbell Medicine introduced a free peaking program for athletes preparing for a powerlifting or strengthlifting meet. [Read more…]
Powerlifting Academy 3 Day 16 Week Program Spreadsheet
This is the Powerlifting Academy 16 week program spreadsheet, 3x weekly training version. There is also a 20 week version available.
Powerlifting Academy 16 Week Program Overview
- 3x weekly training
- Competition lifts are the primary focus, but the following variations are also used:
- Squat
- Pause squats
- Bench Press
- Bench press, closer grip
- Bench press, close grip (what is often called CGBP)
- Deadlift
- Deficit deadlifts (3-6cm deficit)
- Deadlift from boxes (8-12cm raised from floor, i.e. rack pulls)
- Squat
TSA 9 Week Intermediate Powerlifting Program (v1.0 + v2.0)
The TSA 9 Week Intermediate Program is a free 9-week powerlifting peaking program from The Strength Athlete. It runs 4 days per week using a daily undulating periodization (DUP) structure, with squat and deadlift each trained twice a week and bench press trained three or four times depending on which version you run. The cycle ends with a test week (or mock meet) where you go for new maxes.
The program blends percentage-based loading with RPE-driven autoregulation. You load the main lifts off your 1RM, but RPE keeps the top sets honest, especially as the cycle peaks. The first four weeks build volume at moderate intensity, Week 5 is a deload, and Weeks 6-8 ramp intensity while volume drops. Week 9 is the test. There are two versions: v2.0 (the current recommended version) adds heavier top sets with higher-rep backoff work and more bench frequency; v1.0 is the original DUP template with a fixed percentage structure and a warmup tab included.
This program is built for intermediate powerlifters who already have a current 1RM for all three lifts and are comfortable with RPE. If you’re still new to the big three or don’t have a true 1RM to work from, start with the TSA 9 Week Beginner Powerlifting Program first. The intermediate program assumes you can recover from 4 days of training per week and is a strong choice if you’re peaking for a meet or a mock-meet test.
[Read more…]Brian Alsruhe Programs (Dark Horse + 4 Horsemen)
Below you fill find two programs by Brian Alsruhe (check out his YouTube channel and website): Dark Horse and 4 Horsemen.
Dark Horse Program Overview
Notes directly from Brian:
- Fill in your competition lifts and 1RMs in the spreadsheet
- In each wave, for each of the first 4 days, set your conditioning workout
- Pick a variation for each ME Wave
- In each wave, for each of the first 4 days, set your antagonistic, core, and conditioning giant set exercise
GZCL Jacked and Tactical (Bench + Squat Only)
This is a variation of Tactical Barbell programming combined with the GZCL program framework. It only programs the bench press and squat movements. Deadlifts are not included. This is ideal for athletes that are either unable to deadlift or looking to focus primarily on improving their bench press and squat. [Read more…]
MEGAZORD Hybrid Program Spreadsheet
If you’re a fan of Frankenstein-esque hybrid programs, then Megazord may be exactly what you’re looking for. Written (or maybe concocted is a better word…) by /u/BenchPauper on Reddit, this program combines the Coan/Phillipi Deadlift Program, Greg Nuckols’s 2x weekly Intermediate Bench Program for OHP from his 28 Program Collection, and Ben Gillingham’s Raw Bench Program.
The results? Well, see for yourself…. [Read more…]
Calgary Barbell 16 Week + 8 Week Program Spreadsheets
Written by Calgary Barbell, the 16 week and 8 week programs are designed to improve the squat, bench press, and deadlift of the athlete in preparation for a powerlifting meet. You can, however, run them even if you’re not prepping for a meet. Both programs are quite similar, with the primary difference between the two being that the 16 week program has a more full progression of each lift, whereas the 8 week program is more a training snapshot.
[Read more…]PHATburn Powerbuilding Program Spreadsheet
Established by Doug Hepburn as a powerbuilding routine that blends the heavy weight work of powerlifting training with the hypertrophy-inducing volume of bodybuilding training, PHATburn is a challenging program for advanced athletes. If you’re looking to introduce more volume into your off-season training, this may be what you’re looking for. [Read more…]